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Ending Individual Mandate Would Cut Health Coverage
but Not Dramatically Hike Insurance Price
A new RAND Corporation study concludes that eliminating a key part of health care reform that requires all Americans to have health insurance would sharply lower the number of people gaining coverage, but would not dramatically increase the cost of buying policies through new insurance exchanges.

The study comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments in March regarding the constitutionality of the individual mandate, a key provision of 2010's Affordable Care Act. According to estimates created using a microsimulation model created by the RAND Comprehensive Assessment of Reform Efforts (COMPARE) program, the number of Americans predicted to get coverage in 2016 under the Affordable Care Act would drop from 27 million to 15 million if the individual mandate were eliminated. Despite that drop, the study estimates that eliminating the individual mandate would increase an individual's cost of buying insurance through the individual exchanges by just 2.4 percent...(continue)

Cazenovia Recovery Systems, Inc.
Buffalo, New York
"Helping others recover from chemical
addiction and mental illness through
understanding, hope and knowledge"
There are millions of people, from every walk of life in this country, facing or affected by addiction, mental health disorders or homelessness. Addiction and mental health disorders are not discriminating diseases. They can affect anyone at any time. Cazenovia Recovery Systems, Inc. is committed to assisting individuals challenged by these diseases and ensuring each the opportunity to take their first or continuing steps on the path of recovery. Not only does Cazenovia Recovery Systems, Inc...(continue)

Public Health Epidemiologist
Epidemiology is the scientific method used to investigate, analyze and prevent or control a health problem in a population. That population could be the entire world, as may be the case with an influenza epidemic. Or it can be a relatively small group of people—a single high school, for example, with an unusually high number of kids with asthma. Public Health Epidemiologists are medical scientists who investigate and describe factors that influence the development of disease, disability, and other health outcomes. They formulate means for prevention and control. Epidemiologists focus either on research or on clinical situations. Epidemiologists measure and review disease patterns within...(continue)

Monmouth University, New Jersey
Monmouth University is a dynamic, first-tier, private university that empowers students to reach their full potential as leaders able to make significant contributions to their community and society. Monmouth students benefit from a close working relationship with faculty who are leaders in the humanities, sciences, education, and the arts. The University has a focus on experiential education, which ensures students participate in hands-on, real world learning. Many go on to graduate school, but all go on to succeed as leaders in their field. Monmouth University is not only a premier educational institution, it is a destination that offers a myriad of opportunities for students...(continue)

Study to Determine Whether Fish Oil Can Help Prevent Psychiatric Disorders
Researchers at Zucker Hillside Hospital's Recognition and Prevention (RAP) Program who have worked with teenagers at risk for serious mental illness for the past decade are now studying the effectiveness of Omega 3 fatty acids...(continue)

Medsphere, Silver Hill Hospital Collaboration Yields Behavioral Health
Enhancements to OpenVista(R) Electronic Health Record
The development partnership between Medsphere Systems Corporation and Silver Hill Hospital this week produced the first built-from-the-ground-up innovation of Medsphere's OpenVista(R) electronic...(continue)

Case Study—SharedHR
Consortium for Children – Nonprofit Agency
Consortium for Children was created in 1999 specifically to provide programs, support and technical assistance to both public and private child welfare agencies. Like most small employers, many of the systems were developed from what “seemed like a good idea” in the moment. We hired employees and to the degree that we established human resource systems, they were really a patchwork from other companies that the founders had collectively worked for in the past. We made up an employment application, pulled down forms from various websites and established a...(continue)

SAMHSA is Accepting Applications for up to
$15.6 million to Fund Sober
Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act
(STOP Act) Grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for up to a four year total of $15.6 million to fund STOP Act grants aimed at preventing alcohol use among underage youth in communities across the nation. The STOP Act program was created to strengthen collaboration among communities, the Federal Government, state, local and tribal governments in order to enhance effective efforts for reducing alcohol use among youth. This mission includes disseminating timely information to communities...(continue)

A Collaborative Approach to
Hospital and Agency Management
By Lesley Dyson
A state group purchasing organization (GPO) was established in the northeast, in part to deliver group discounted products and services to member hospitals of a large hospital association. The GPO established many vendor contracts that could save the hospital members’ doctors and staff many millions of dollars. The president of the hospital association, however, voiced a concern he had regarding a disconnection between his many member hospitals and the GPO. The primary disconnect was in the communications and application between the GPO and the end users. Most of the staff at the very...(continue)

Senate Passes Bills to Curb Illegal
Prescription Drug Abuse
With the abuse of illegally-obtained prescription narcotics growing rapidly, the New York State Senate today passed several bills to curb the black market in prescription painkillers. Senate approval of the bills, sponsored by Senator Kemp Hannon (R, C, I – Garden City), Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, and Senator Jack Martins (R-C-I, Mineola), followed a roundtable discussion on the issue of abuse of prescription painkillers, held today by Senator Hannon and Senator Jeff Klein, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Alcohol and Substance Abuse. This was a second in a series of public meetings discussing legislation to combat prescription...(continue)

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Clinics in the
United States Industry Market Research Report
There is mounting appreciation of the economic, personal and societal benefits of treating people who suffer from mental illness or substance abuse. Combined with a shift of treatment from inpatient to outpatient settings, this factor has fostered growth for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Clinics industry.

Over the five years to 2012, revenue is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.3% to $14.6 billion. While the majority of revenue is garnered through government sources, a significant portion of revenue depends on private insurance and out-of-pocket payments, according to IBISWorld industry analyst Caitlin Moldvay. Consequently, revenue dipped during the recession. With rising employment favorably affecting private insurance rates, industry revenue is expected to rebound. Under Medicare, coverage for outpatient mental health services has risen...(continue)

Rhode Island
Rhode Island Awarded Grant to Increase Employment Opportunities for
Individuals with Behavioral Health Disorders
The Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) is one of only nine states...(continue)